APPLETON - Had enough? You've got one week and some change to go before one of the most vitriol-filled election seasons in memory comes to a close.

In the meantime, a growing number of voters are heading to the polls early, and city clerks and poll workers across the Fox Valley are gearing up for what could be a very unpredictable Election Day on Nov. 8. Clerks are asking voters – no matter which side of the political divide they may reside and no matter how fervent their beliefs – to be courteous and respectful to their fellow voters at the polls, particularly those planning to show up as election observers.

"If people can be respectful, we'd ask they leave (political T-shirts, buttons, signs behind) before they come in, and they can show all the support they want after they vote," said Kami Lynch, Appleton's city clerk.

It's been, to put it mildly, a contentious election season – from Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump's heated exchanges on the presidential ticket, to the bitter second edition of the Senate race between Russ Feingold and Ron Johnson, to the testy and often personal race for Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District between Republican Mike Gallagher and Democrat Tom Nelson.

We asked two local city clerks – Appleton's Lynch and Kaukauna's Susan Duda – to shed some light on voter expectations and etiquette as we head into the final days of Election 2016.

Has early voting turnout been brisk, and does that suggest a big turnout come Nov. 8?

Yes on both accounts, say Lynch and Duda. Both said they are expecting enthusiasm at the polls on Election Day, citing the higher than usual numbers so far in early absentee voting.

Statewide, 262,000 residents have voted early in person already, while 132,000 mailed in ballots early.

So far, Appleton is on target to exceed the last presidential election turnout with both mail-in and in-person absentee ballots, Lynch said. In the 2012 presidential election between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, 9,000 absentee ballots were cast in Appleton. As of Thursday morning, nearly 6,000 had already been cast, with more than a week to go before the Nov. 4 deadline. There were substantial lines at times on Friday at the city clerk's office, particularly over the lunch hour.

Can anyone vote early?

You bet. If you're registered to vote, you can vote between now and Nov. 4. No excuse needed. The early votes will be tabulated on Election Day just the same as votes cast on Nov. 8.

Will the Trump accusations of a "rigged" election cause problems at the polls?

Despite emotions running high, the clerks said they're hopeful people will remain respectful at the polls. Special interest groups and officials from political parties are expected to be on hand to observe the voting process on Election Day, not unlike in previous years.

Most often, those officials are looking to see who is voting, and make sure the voters they've registered or contacted come to the polls.

However, this year marks a stark contrast from previous election cycles as Trump has called on supporters to monitor polling places and has suggested the election would be "rigged" in favor of Clinton.

Local and state officials charged with running elections have pushed back against Trump's comments, saying elections in the United States are done fairly and have adequate safeguards.

"I don't even know how that would be possible," Duda, a city clerk since 1988, said of rigging a fraudulent election.

Lynch and Duda said state statutes ensure anyone campaigning for one candidate or another – what's called "electioneering" – must remain at least 100 feet away from the entrance of the polling place.

If someone is conducting an exit poll as voters leave the polling place, it's up to voters to decide whether to participate or not.

"There are all sorts of rules about how close they can be," Lynch said of any election observers. "They're not to interfere at all with the voting process. They're there to be seen, not heard."

Election observers are required to notify the chief inspector at the polling place and show a photo ID. They cannot make direct contact with voters or wear clothing, hats or pins promoting a candidate.

If you feel as if you've been hassled by an election observer, you can contact your municipal clerk's office or file a complaint with the Wisconsin Elections Commission (608-266-8005 or www.elections.wi.gov/complaints).

Are poll locations being set up or staffed differently?

Mostly it's business as usual, although the number of poll workers may be higher in anticipation of more voters and longer lines, Lynch said. In Kaukauna, staff always adds more poll workers for a November election, Duda said.

Appleton, meanwhile, has changed where Lawrence University students will vote. The polling place for the city's District 4, which includes the Lawrence campus, will be at Memorial Presbyterian Church on College Avenue instead of inside LU's Alexander Gym, where it's been located in recent years. The church, which is adjacent to the campus, has more available space and the site will be more accommodating for parking, Lynch said.

The District 16 polling place in Appleton also has been moved to the ministry center in Faith Lutheran Church on Glendale Avenue.

What do voters need to know before they go to the polls?

For starters, bring that ID. And forget about the selfie while you're voting.

Although there have been multiple court decisions on the state's voter ID laws in recent months, voters still need to bring an approved ID card to comply with the state's voter ID laws. Eligible IDs include a Wisconsin driver's license, a Wisconsin ID card, a veterans ID card, a U.S. passport or a student ID card that expires within two years of the issue date and has a signature.

Voters should also silence their cellphones before they head to the polls, Lynch said. They're free to scroll or text while in line to vote, but they shouldn't be talking on the phone, taking ballot selfies – which are illegal under state law – or researching candidates while in the poll booth.

"Voters should do all of that before they arrive to vote on Election Day," Lynch said.

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Mark Thiel receives a ballot and gets instructions from volunteer Jean Luhrmann at Appleton City Hall in October 2016. Thiel said he opted to vote early rather than contend with long lines on Election Day.(Photo: Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

Here's a list of where Fox Cities residents can vote ahead of Election Day:

Appleton: In-person absentee voting is available now and continues through Nov. 4. Voters can cast ballots from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at Appleton City Hall, 100 N. Appleton St.

Buchanan: In-person absentee voting is available now at Buchanan Town Hall from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays, and from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Fridays, until Nov. 4. Buchanan Town Hall is located at N178 County N.

Combined Locks: In-person absentee voting is available now at the Combined Locks Village Hall on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Nov. 4. Combined Locks Village Hall is located at 405 Wallace St.

Fox Crossing: In-person absentee voting is available now. Voters can cast ballots from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at the Municipal Complex, 2000 Municipal Drive in Fox Crossing. On Nov. 3 and 4, voting will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Grand Chute: In-person absentee voting is available now. Voters can cast ballots from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays at the Grand Chute Clerk's Office, 1900 W. Grand Chute Blvd. On Nov. 3 and 4, voting will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Greenville: In-person absentee voting is available now. Voters can cast ballots 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at W6860 Parkview Drive, Greenville. On Nov. 3 and 4, voting will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Harrison (both town and village): In-person absentee voting is available now at the town and village offices from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays until Nov. 4. Offices are located at W5298 State Road 114.

Hortonville: In-person absentee voting is available now. Voters can cast ballots 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays at the Hortonville Municipal Services Center, 531 N. Nash St. On Nov. 4, voting will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Kaukauna: In-person absentee voting is available now at Kaukauna City Hall in the clerk's office from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays until Nov. 4. Kaukauna City Hall is located at 144 W. Second St.

Kimberly: In-person absentee voting is available now at Kimberly Village Hall from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. weekdays until Nov. 4. Kimberly Village Hall is located at 515 W. Kimberly Ave.

Little Chute: In-person absentee voting is available now at Little Chute Village Hall in the clerk's office from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. On Nov. 4, the hours will be extended to 5 p.m. Village Hall is located at 108 W. Main St.

Menasha: In-person absentee voting is available now at Menasha City Hall from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. weekdays, with hours extending until 5 p.m. on Nov. 3 and Nov. 4. City Hall is located at 140 Main St.

Neenah: In-person absentee voting is available now at Neenah City Hall from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. Friday hours are shortened from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hours will be extended from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 3 and Nov. 4. Neenah City Hall is located at 211 Walnut St.

Vandenbroek: In-person absentee voting is available now by appointment only until Nov. 4. Call 920-850-1848 to set up an appointment.